China Travel Forum

[Henry]

Malaria risk, I have been to my doctor and have been prescribed Doxcycline as I am spending some time in Yunnan. I have been reading up, and the photo-sensitivity seems a bit of a pain the arse.. especially as it is going to be hot when I am there in April& May
So.. Question 1: Anyone have any good or bad experience of Doxcycyline they can share..
Question 2: With the following itinerary - would you consider there to be a malaria risk? As from what I have read, 'main tourist' areas are fine, I am thinking maybe the week I am in Tiger Leaping Gorge is my main risk.. Which if my exposure is only a week, I could get away with taking Malarone.
So I think Dali, Zhongdian, TLG and Lijiang all count as a risk - what does everyone else think..
Is it safe ?

[Rex Sun]

china is a fun place really no risk at all to tell you the truth i been there many times. I see you are not going to the city of Urumqi in you get a chance you should go see that city its a little difrent from the rest of china. YOu will have alot of fun there that i am sure .
i have been in and out of china for the past 6 years and i always spend about 3 to 4 months a year there really i tell you nothing to worry about no more then you have here
Malaria is a very real threat, and unless you are going to slather yourself head to toe in DEET repellent you might get bit (I was bit multiple times through t shirts and socks).
That being said, the threat of contracting malaria as a tourist is pretty low. I'd recommend taking medicine (if any) only in the southern parts of china. There's no threat in the north.